Job opportunities for individuals with employment barriers... Hands-on solutions to your business needs

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Guiding Principles
History
Who Can Use the Services of Handi-Crafters?

Guiding Principles to the Self-Determination Initiative of Pennsylvania
Handi-Crafters is committed to the following Guiding Principles listed in the State's Self-Determination Initiative. We believe all of these principles should be weighed against each action and decision made within Pennsylvania's system of supports and services.

Choice - People have the right to choose how they will live their lives, where they will live in the community and with whom.

Relationships - The relationships a person has with others must be treasured, nurtured and protected.

Contribution - Everyone has the ability to contribute to their community in a meaningful way.

Roles and Responsibilities - Individuals, as they take greater control over their lives and resources, assume greater responsibility for their decisions and actions.

Control - People have the power to make decisions and truly control their lives.

Dreams - All people have hopes and dreams about something in their lives.

Dignity and Respect - All people have an inherent right to be treated with dignity and respect.

Fiscal Conservatism - Making things happen does not always require money.

Attitude - Nothing is impossible. Replace "No we can't" with "How can we?"

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History of Handi-Crafters
Handi-Crafters was founded in 1961 by a group of parents to help their children who had developmental disabilities. They had left school without any work-related skills and seemed destined to be cut off from the opportunity of becoming employed. Their parents refused to accept this and established the first sheltered workshop in Chester County, providing a vocational rehabilitation program for eight young adults.

Our clients include people who have a barrier to successful competitive employment. Our caring staff provides a structured and personal program of rehabilitation, vocational training and job placement services. Our goal is to help our clients work to the highest level of their ability and lead as independent a life as possible.

We work closely with the community to provide meaningful job experiences for our clients.  300 individuals perform a variety of hands-on tasks for a wide range of businesses in our workshops. Others are employed off-site by local companies on our supervised work crews. Our employment specialists place individuals into regular jobs in the competitive workplace.

We may have grown out of all recognition from the organization we started with in 1961, but our mission has remained the same. Our primary goal is to make a positive difference in the lives of our clients by helping them overcome their obstacles to entering the workplace so they can find their highest level of productive employment and financial independence. Perhaps most important of all, their daily acceptance into a social and work environment gives them a high sense of self-esteem and self-worth.

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From such a tiny acorn a mighty oak tree has grown. We now run one of the largest community rehabilitation programs in southeastern Pennsylvania. For more than 49 years, we have been successfully helping people who want to be employed but, for one reason or another, have a difficult time entering the workplace.

Who Can Use the Services of Handi-Crafters?
We can help anyone who faces barriers to becoming employed.

Funding
Public or private funding for our services must be arranged before you can participate in one of our programs. There are several agencies that sponsor our clients including the Department of Mental Health/Mental Retardation (MH/MR), Blindness and Visual Services (BVS), the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR), the Department of Community Development (DCD), and various school districts. If necessary, Handi-Crafters may be able to help an eligible individual secure sponsorship from one of these organizations.

Admission into our Programs
Anyone seeking admission to Handi-Crafters' programs should contact Fred Stabene, our Vocational Evaluator, at 610-384-6990 x231 or fred.stabene@handi-crafters.org. All applicants are reviewed by Handi-Crafters' Admissions and Discharge Committee before being accepted. This usually involves a formal assessment to determine if an applicant would be able to benefit from our services.  Handi-Crafters will use its best professional practices to determine acceptance on an individual basis.

The Referral Process
Your referral source should contact Fred Stabene, Vocational Evaluator, and submit a client information packet containing:
· Recent psychological or psychiatric reports
· A list of medications
· Any physical restrictions or other limitations
· A Comprehensive Evaluation Report or an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for students or an Individual Service Plan (ISP) for referrals from the Department of MH/MR

The Intake Interview
You, your family and other team members will then be invited to a tour and an intake interview to discuss the following:
· The programs that are available at Handi-Crafters
· The number of days per week you will attend
· Your starting date
· Transportation to and from Handi-Crafters
· Daily lunch arrangements (you may bring your own lunch or buy a meal from our cafeteria)

Additional Support
Health Services
Health Services are provided by a Registered Nurse. The nurse administers medication as well as addressing agency health issues to assure general health and safety.

Transportation
Transportation is the responsibility of the person entering the program.  Chester County Paratransit provides transportation for clients who are eligible for services or funding from the Chester County MH/MR program. Handi-Crafters can help eligible individuals make the necessary arrangements to use the Paratransit service.

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